Phil Cunningham was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1960. His musical career began with accordion lessons at the age of three and violin a few years later. His initial training was in classical music, with a deep interest and love of the traditional music of his homeland developing simultaneously. In 1976, he joined his brother Johnny Cunningham in the highly acclaimed Scottish band Silly Wizard, and was a full-time member until 1983. Phil contributed many of his own compositions to their mostly traditional repertoire, adding to the musical heritage of Scotland and keeping the tradition alive.

Phil left Silly Wizard in 1983 to pursue a solo career, as he found himself in demand as a composer and performer for television, radio, film and stage. Between 1985 and 1987 he toured and recorded with supergroup Relativity, with his brother Johnny, and Irish brother and sister, Michael and Triona O'Domnaill. 

Accordionist Phil Cunningham and fiddler Aly Bain are two of the most celebrated musicians on the Scottish traditional scene. The duo first worked together on a television series in 1988, and embarked on their first tour shortly after. They were so well received that they have been touring Scotland annually ever since, in addition to frequent performances in Europe and North America.

Phil has produced albums for many popular traditional artists, including Dolores Keane and Altan. In 1990, he wrote the music for Bill Bryden's spectacular theater productions "The Ship" (1990) and "The Big Picnic" (1994). In recent years he has worked as music director and composer for various BBC Scotland series, and also wrote "The Highlands &Islands Suite," an orchestral work which was performed at The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. He has recently toured with Bonnie Raitt and with Kepa Junkera, in addition to running CAP recording studios with his partner Donna.

In 2002, Phil was awarded the MBE for services to Scottish Music and was voted Best Instrumentalist in the inaugural Scottish Traditional Music Awards in 2003.

His compositions are covered by musicians the world over, and he continues to write and add to his prolific repertoire. His proudest moments have been the premiers of his two orchestral suites for Symphony orchestra and Celtic instruments. His last piece Ceilidh was written for and performed by acclaimed Scots percussionist Evelyn Glennie and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Airs and Graces (Green Linnet, 1984)

Palomino Waltz (Green Linnet, 1989)

The Pearl, with Aly Bain (1996)

The Ruby, with Aly Bain (Green Linnet 3123, 1998)

Another Gem, with Aly Bain (Compass 4312, 2001)